Signor of one-half to thomas hugh bell



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. RAMSAY.

MACHINE FOR WASHING GOAL, m.

ATTORNEYS.

u PETERS, PhatoLilMgn-lphe n Wauhingion. o a

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. RAM-SAY.

MAGHINB FOB WASHING GOAL, &c. No. 323,075. Patented July 28, 1885.

/@;NTESSES: J I INVBNTOR ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, Photo-Lithographer. Wnhingicn. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM RAMSAY, OF TURSDALE OOLLIERY, COUNTY OF DURHAM, AS-

SIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS HUGH BELL, OF MIDDLESBROUGH,

ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR WASHING COAL, 8w.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,075, dated July 28, 1885.

Application filed March 14, 1885. (No model.) Patented in England April 11, 1882, No. 1,716.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM RAMSAY, of Tursdale Colliery, in the county of Durham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Washing Coal and other Minerals or Materials, for which Thomas Bell, J r., of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, in the county of York, England, and myself have obtained Letters Patent of Great Britain,

IO No. 1,716, dated the 11th day of April, 1882,)

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved means for separating the coal, metal, mineral, or whatever it may be, from the baser or earthy r 5 matter, and aims at a convenient and economical means for accomplishing this end.

My invention consists of a trough of asemicylindrical form, mounted in an inclined position, centrally within which and extending from end to end I place an axis provided with arms or stirrers. Distributed within the trough also are stops or ledges having flexible flaps affixed to their lower edges. The aforesaid axis, as well as the ledges or stops,

2 are not fixtures in the trough, but are supported independently, the latter being suspended from the stationary frame-work of the apparatus. The upper end of the trough is hinged to the frame-work of the apparatus,

0 and at the lower end is provided with counterpoiscs or balancing-weights, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5 5, Fig. 2.

A is the washing-trough, semi-cylindrical 0 in shape,and formed preferably about two feet in diameter. It is provided at its upper end with lugs B, which fit into bearings or journalboxes 0, arranged upon the frame D of the apparatus. This construction forms a hinge, 4 5 whereby the trough may be raised and lowered at will. The outer end of the trough is suspended by means of chains E, pulleys F, and weights G over the standards (I of the frame D. By this means the weight of the trough is to a great extent equalized and its manipu- 5o lation rendered more easy and convenient.

H represents a water-inlet at the upper end of the washingtrough, and is provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with a sluice-cock, h.

I is an axis or rock-shaft arranged in the upper p rt of. the trough, and extending from one end to the other of the same. It is provided at suitable intervals with arms or stirrers J, which extend downwardly into the trough, as shown in Fig. 4. This axis is connected to any suitable source of power by means of cranks and levers K L M N. Byv this means it is given a semi-rotating or rocking movement, which causes the arms or stirrers suspended from it to oscillate. This motion serves to agitate the contents of the trough. A speed of twenty-eight complete oscillations per minute will be found suitable for the axis and its arms when working with coal.

O 0 represent the ledges or stops within the washing trough. They extend down to the bottom of the trough, but are not in any way attached to it, being suspended from the frame of the machine at points (1. The ledges or stops are made preferably of sheet-iron, and are semicircular in shape. Fig. 5 shows to a larger scale a front elevation of one of them. Around the lower edges of these stops I rivet a strip, P, of india-rubber, leather, or other pliable substance, so as to render the contact between the said stops and the inner surface of the trough perfectly tight, and prevent the finer particles of stone or other refuse matter passing underneath and mixing with the clean coal that is washed forward.

At R is a hopper, into which the material to be sorted and cleaned is deposited, and from which the trough is fed from time to time and at suitable intervals. 9

At S is shown a chute adapted for receiving and carrying off the coal after it has left the trough. It is provided with a trap, T, which can be dropped at pleasure, so as to divert the refuse materials which descend from the chute into the wagon U.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The material to be assorted is fed into the trough from the hopper It, the sluice-cock h is opened, and the water allowed to flow into the trough from the pipe or conduit H. At the same time the rock-shaft or axis I is set in motion by means of the mechanism hereinbefore described. The arms or stirrers, assisted by the water, serve to work the coal or other material to be cleaned onward, and the refuse, being of greater specific gravity than the coal, falls to the bottom, and is prevented from descending the trough by means of the ledges or stops. The coal, through the agency of the water and the stirrers, is carried down the incline and passes from the trough into the delivery-chute S. When the washing has gone on so long that the spaces behind the stops are nearly full of the refuse material, which it is the object of the process to separate, the sup ply of coal or mineral at the upper end of the trough is stopped. XVhen the delivery of the coal at the lower end of the trough has ceased, the trap T is opened and the trough is lowered into the position indicated by the dotted lines at a a. As the stops 0 are attached to the frame, and do not descend with the trough, there is no impediment offered to the refuse, which consequently slides freely down the trough into the wagon U.

I have described my invention with particular reference to its adaptability for washing coal; but I do not limit its operativeness to this material alone, but may apply it with equal effect to washing and assorting ores and other materials. It would of course be necessary in some instances, as'in the case of separating ores from the refuse and earthy mat ter, to reverse the process I have described and permit the refuse to be drained away in the chute'S and conduct the ore (it being the heaviest) through the trap T into the wagon U.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is c l. The herein-described coal-washing machine, comprising the frame, the trough, the rockshaft j ournaled and supported inde pendently of said trough and having the arms or stirrers projecting therefrom, and the transverse ledges or stops depending from said frame, the trough being hinged at one end and adapted to be moved to and from said stirrers and stops, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the movable trough, of the frame and the transverse ledges or stops depending from said frame and adapted to occupy the trough, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

The combination, with the trough, of the ledges or stops provided with india-rubber or other pliable material on their lower ledges,

as and for the purpose set forth.

\VILLIAM RAMSAY.

Witnesses:

THOS. PALLISTER. Accountant, ilft'ddlesbrongh, England.

ALBERT GonRENs, Foreign Cbrrespcndcni, llfizldlesbrongh, England. 

